1. “Getting” Jesus – (a) have you recently discovered something about Jesus that you didn’t realize or appreciate previously? (b) is there something about Jesus that you don’t “get” (don’t understand, or don’t fully appreciate)?

This Sunday, Pastor Tim Richards continues his series on Ecclesiastes entitled, "The Book of Smoke," looking this week at chapter 8:1-17. 

2. Read Ecclesiastes 8:12. Despite his frustration, what gives him hope?

3. Read Romans 8:17-21. What, if anything, do you find in common between Paul’s words in Roman’s and the Teacher’s words in Ecclesiastes?

4. Have you ever had an experience where you felt a grave injustice was done but the bad guys got away with it? What counsel or encouragement do you draw from these passages?

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This Sunday, Pastor Tim Richards will be continuing the series on Ecclesiastes entitled, "The Book of Smoke," looking this week at chapter 7:1-29. 

2. Read Ecclesiastes 7:1-5. Why does the Teacher think it’s good to go to funerals?

3. Read Ecclesiastes 7:15-20. Is the Teacher recommending being a little bad? (Note: It may be helpful to read some notes from a Study Bible or Commentary)

4. Read Ecclesiastes 7:26-29. Is the Teacher a misogynist? What is his main point? (Again, a Study Bible or Commentary may be helpful)

Pastor Tim Richards continues the series on Ecclesiastes entitled, "The Book of Smoke," looking this week at chapters 5:8-6:12. 

2. The Teacher in Ecclesiastes has often stated that he perceives much of life’s toil as vain. Now he says a person should find joy in it. Considering what he says in verses 18-20, what allows a person to move from a sense of tedium to joy in their work?

3. What does the teacher mean when he says “he will not much remember the days of his life”? Is that a good or negative thing?

4. Each of us has a lot in life but Jesus indicated that if we are his followers our lots are also part of something bigger. Read Matthew 9:36-38. Jesus pictures the world not as a small lot but a large field ready for harvest. His prayer was for workers who would use their resources to enter into that harvest. How and where are you engaging your wealth, possessions and power (Eccl 5:20) in the work of that bigger field?

This Sunday, Pastor Tim Richards will be continuing the series on Ecclesiastes entitled, "The Book of Smoke," looking this week at chapter 5:1-7. Online service can be viewed via live stream on YouTube, or a DVD copy can be requested through the church office. 

2. Read Ecclesiastes 5:1. What do you think the Teacher means, telling people to guard their steps when they go to the house of God?

3. Read Ecclesiastes 5:2-3. Why does the Teacher advise that words uttered to God be few? In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul says we should pray without ceasing. Is that a contradiction? If not, how do you harmonize these two ideas?

4. Read Ecclesiastes 5:3 & 7. It is interesting that the Teacher in this passage seems to warn about personal dreams.  Is it wrong to have a dream? What is the danger the Teacher is concerned with? What application can you find in your own life?

This Sunday, Pastor Tim Richards continues his series on Ecclesiastes entitled, "The Book of Smoke," looking this week at chapter 3:16-4:16. Online service can be viewed via live stream on YouTube, or a DVD copy can be requested through the church office. 

2.  Read Ecclesiastes 4:4-8. What strikes the author as being as pointless as striving after wind?

3. Read Ecclesiastes 4:5-6. Discuss the differing image of hands and the different people each describes

4. Where in your own life are you tempted to be discontented? What lessons can you draw from the observations of Ecclesiastes that might apply to your situation?

This Sunday, Pastor Lance Lewis continues our series on Ecclesiastes entitled, "The Book of Smoke," looking this week at chapter 3:1-15. 

2. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says God has put eternity in our hearts, yet we "cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end." Where do you find yourself most frustrated by not being able to see the big picture of what God is doing?

3. C.S. Lewis said his longing for something no earthly experience could satisfy was what eventually led him to Christ. Have you 

Pastor Tim Richards continues his series on Ecclesiastes entitled, "The Book of Smoke," looking this week at chapter 2:1-26. 

2.  In Ecclesiastes 2:12-17 this highly accomplished, yet disillusioned character, turns his attention to the pursuit of wisdom. What conclusions does that lead him to?

3. In Ecclesiastes 2:18-23 he begins to ponder what comes next after he dies. What does he find distressing and why?

4. Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 finally brings some resolution. In what does he finally find some peace?

This Sunday, Pastor Tim Richards continues his series on Ecclesiastes entitled, "The Book of Smoke," looking this week at chapter 1:12-18. 

2. God rarely makes an appearance in Ecclesiastes, but he does show up briefly in verse 13. Compare this to Genesis 3:17-19. What connections do you see between these two passages? Do you think those connections are intentional or coincidental? 

3. Have you ever devoted a lot of time to a project that, in the end, appeared to be completely pointless? What was the project? How did you deal with the aftermath once you realized it had all been for nothing?

4. Read John 1:1-4. What difference does Jesus make to the business of life compared to the frustrating picture we find in Ecclesiastes 1:12-18? Are there specific ways you have found that to be true in your own life journey?

This Sunday, Pastor Tim Richards begins his new series on Ecclesiastes entitled, "The Book of Smoke." 

SERMON QUESTIONS:

1. Have you ever read the book of Ecclesiastes? If so, what did you like? What did you not like? What did you find confusing?

2. Read Ecclesiastes 1:1-11. In verse 8 the Preacher says, “All things are full of weariness…” What does he mean by that?

3. Have there been or are there places in your own life where you have had that treadmill kind of feeling?

4. What difference does being a follower of Jesus bring to life?